OGUN  CELEBRATES 2020 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

International Women's Day has been described as a period to reflect on progress made, to call for change, as well as celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who had played extra ordinary role in the history of their communities.

Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Efuwape, stated this while leading other women representatives in the State to celebrate the 2020 International Women’s Day at the Women Development Center, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

 Efuwape, speaking on the theme, "I am Generation Equality: Realising Women's Right", called on all to build a gender equality world, which she said was not an issue meant for women development alone, rather ‘’an essential tool for the economy and community to thrive".

She said the world has made unprecedented advances but no country could achieve gender equality if the women were not ready to stand for themselves, encouraging the women to rise up to the task of making it a success.

In her good will message, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Hon. Adijat Oladapo-Adeleye, encouraged women to ensure a change in the narrative of gender equality, saying, "this could not be achieved by fighting our husbands, rather, women should be responsible and apply wisdom to achieve this’’.

In her remark, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Oluranti Oladeinde said, the State government would continue to promote gender equality and propagate various programmes and activities that would enhance the financial position of women in the state towards national development.

"Women and girls continue to be undervalued, they work more and earn less and have fewer choices and experience multiple forms of violence at home and in public places, therefore, the ministry would continue to ensure full participation of women in taking bold, pragmatic action to accelerate gender balance in all spheres of development", Oladeinde noted.

She pointed out that, this year’s theme was pivotal for advancing gender equality and presented an opportunity to mobilize global action to protect rights of all women and girls.

In her lecture, Chairman of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Mrs. Peju Osoba, called for mobilization to end gender based violence and inequality, for economic justice and right for all, saying, women should not to see themselves as a gender, meant for the back, ‘’let us rise up to the challenge of seeing ourselves as gender with virtue dignity and substance’’.